The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-02-02
JOBS RUSE.

2
JOBS RUSE.
4 New England winter seene-the
henlock forests all draped with ermine
frinces Of snow-the hills and the valleys
white as if they were coated with pearl,
( while from the farmhouse chimneys in
tbs gray thickets of leafiess naples under
the rocks a blue spiral Of smoke went
wreathing and curling up into the steely
+ January sky, end the sunset, reflected on
the nlyraid tiny window-panes of the
/ western front, made an orange sparkle of
brightness that supplied the otherwise
+ ! -cking element of color 70 the frigid
landscape.
Farmer Westerbrook had just brought
an armful Of snow-crusted logs from the
wood-pile at the north end Of the house
throwing them down on the ample stone
hearth with a noise ike small earth
quake, when Sibyl Harrington started
up.
Five o'clock Oh l hadn't an idea ii
was 80 late. must be going"
Allow me to accompany you, Miss
Harrington
You viii let me see You home, Sibyl?'
Captain Meredith and Max CrossIey
both spoke at once. and rose simultane-
oyisIy-but Sibyl shook her head
would prefer TO walk alone, she
said, gayly
And about the sIeighing party to-
morrow night said Max anxiously.
-I-have half promised Captain Mere
( dith, said the village beauty, her long
eye-lashes dropping and a delicate shade
( frose sufflsing her cheek.
But, Sibyl. | thought it was an un-
ders,ood matter between you and me,
three good weeks ago - Max exclaimed,
with contracting brows.
Was II? am sure ! had forgotten il .
Max was silent. Captain Meredith's
smooth, softly-intoned voice filed up the
/ silence.
expect no promises" he said, gal
lantly . but if am not punctual to the
hour and the spot, Miss Harrington may
! draw her own conclusions
And Sibyl went out, her light footsteps
making a low, pl 'asant music on the brit
tie snow.
She was very pretty, this gazelle-eyed
New England damsel Max Crossley had
I loved her ever since they we're children
together, and Captain Meredith. who had
come down to pass the Christmas hoii-
DAYS with his cousins, the Westbrooks,
had been caught in the neshes Of her
bronze-gold hair and the interlacing net
work ofthe lashes tina. oyerhung the p lr-
I ple-blue ewes. and had prolonged his Vi it
into January
Upon my word, she's a regular beau
ty,' said the captain, staring through the
tiny window panez atthe retreating foot
steps of Miss Harrington.
Max Crossiey looked quickly up at him
as he would have particularly liked to
knock him over the andirons in among
the logs bat perhaps he thought better
Of ii. for he RETAINED from any demon
stration.
beauty. went on the captain " and
its thousand pities she should be
thrown away on any of the country
pumpkins who vegetate among this viii
derness. job, you Young william, ara those
boots of mine blackened yet?"
Farmer Westerbrooks hired boy. who
just came in to warm his empurpled
hands at the merry red blaze, looked
glum
No, they ant said job brusquely.
We'll. what's the reason
Cause ant 'ad time"
a. See that YOU find time. then, and that
quick, too said the captain.
Aud job growled after him, as he went
gaylv up the stairs
Il just wish had the servin' of him
out, 4" said job, gloomily. It's Job, DO
this. and Job, do that. and Job, where
the warm water? and Job, what
the duoe DO you mean by lettin' my fire
90 outT as if Was MS boud slave. and
not red cent has he gay me yet-no.nor
50 much a. pleasant word wonder if
he means 10 sray here always"
You and are equally partial TO him,
job said Max Crossley. laughing.
say, Mr. Crosslev, why don't you get
beforehead with him Miss Sibyl don't
really care for him-she'> only dazzled
Ike"
Max Crossley frowned slightly honest
Job WAS not exactly the kind Of Gany-
mede ne cared to have meddle with his
love affairs
The next night came-a night Of all
nights propitious for sleighing expedi-
tions and rustic love-making the roads
delight ully hard and sell packed and j,
glorious full moon shining down as
Whitley as if 4 rain of silver were delug
ing the whole world
IoUidn ne better weather, SAID iht
captain, Job. where are the sleigh
bellr?"
Dunno quoth Job, indifferentiy
There's them old jinglers in the garrei
that used to belong to Deacon Sic Wester
brook, that was in the revolutionary war
and there's the two COW bells that Mar,
Ann might scour up with ashes"
Pshawi" sail the captain, . do yoI
{ take me for Rip Van Wrinkle? There's
, pretty little string somewhere, for | saw
them when Mrs Westerbrook went GU
. day before Yesterday
! i hain't seen nothin' on EN- sal,
Job, stolidly.
Come, come, don't make yoIrself ou
any stupider than you be by nature. Job,